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Four Fears Entrepreneurs Overcome

There are four fears entrepreneurs overcome both daily and during the start of their business. These fears can come and go quickly, and thus must be recognized and overcome if an entrepreneur wants to be able to weather the challenges. These four fears entrepreneurs overcome can be both subtle and blatant. Have you experienced any of these fears?

Four Fears Entrepreneurs Overcome

1. Fear of failure

2. Fear of success

3. Fear of public criticism or difference of opinion

4. Fear of dissatisfaction by comparison trap

The Four fears entrepreneurs overcome daily

Fear of Failure

I don’t want to sacrifice a safe future, the employee says to himself when presented with a business idea. What if i fail? I don’t want to speak publicly the solopreneur says. What if i am boring? There are fears of failure everyday in everyones life.

Fear of Success
I was speaking with a Physician owner of a large IPA/Medical Group in California who characterized a physician who had left early on during the start-up phase of another group as being “afraid of success”. This comment puzzled me and made me think. Why would he be afraid of success?
With success come responsibility. This is the big difference between the employee who shows up from eight to five then punches out, leaves their worries, and goes home while the entrepreneur responds at any time of the day when something is needed. Some people are afraid of responsibility and thus are afraid of success.

Fear of Criticism or Difference of Opinion
How easy is it to have a great idea and then as soon as you ask someone else their opinion a lack of enthusiasm from them will pop your balloon?

Fear of Dissatisfaction by Comparison Trap
Have you ever listened to Entrepreneur on Fire (a great podcast by the way) or another successful start up show? Often you can find yourself comparing your success, or lack of it, to others and feeling down about your potential or opportunities. This is a trap. Gain what you can from others, but realize that you never see anyone else’s entire picture (believe me everyone has challenges) and you are called to your own road.

The solution. The How…Four Fears Entrepreneurs Overcome
Faith.
Ok…(long pause)…faith?
Yes! Faith!
Faith that you can move forward inspite of these real or fake fears.

Nothing is accomplished without faith. If you don’t actually believe the idea is good, you won’t go to the next step to make it happen! If you don’t have faith that you have the resources or abilities to execute the idea, then you won’t launch or try it.

entrepreneurs need faith

How to have Faith

Faith comes with trust and taking the next step. It comes from tackling actions that will demonstrate to us that we can “fail”, “succeed”, “be criticised”, “be different”, and still be completely content and satisfied. Once the joy of trying things and the potential of achieving great goals becomes clearer and closer you will have less resistence to overcoming these fears. You will have faith that inspite of these fears, the journey of risk is well worth the reward.

For me faith in God helps tremendously because i know He can work through my failure for permanent success. If i fail at a project it may lead me to better understanding a bigger challenge i am tasked with later in life. I also know, that no matter what…God will win in the end!

So jump in. Step out. Place your faith in God and the gifts he’s given you. And take the next step inspite of these fears.